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Questions and Answers
Who chaired the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?
Who chaired the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?
B.R. Ambedkar
How many members were in the Drafting Committee?
How many members were in the Drafting Committee?
Eight
What was the main responsibility of the Drafting Committee?
What was the main responsibility of the Drafting Committee?
Preparing the final draft of the Indian Constitution
Name one of the committees set up in the Constituent Assembly to facilitate the drafting process.
Name one of the committees set up in the Constituent Assembly to facilitate the drafting process.
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Why is B.R. Ambedkar known as the father of the Indian Constitution?
Why is B.R. Ambedkar known as the father of the Indian Constitution?
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Who presided over India's Constituent Assembly during the drafting of the constitution?
Who presided over India's Constituent Assembly during the drafting of the constitution?
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When was the first session of the Constituent Assembly held?
When was the first session of the Constituent Assembly held?
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How many members were in the Constituent Assembly from the provinces?
How many members were in the Constituent Assembly from the provinces?
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Who was the temporary president of the Constituent Assembly during its first session?
Who was the temporary president of the Constituent Assembly during its first session?
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What was the purpose of convening the Constituent Assembly on August 29, 1947?
What was the purpose of convening the Constituent Assembly on August 29, 1947?
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Study Notes
Indian Constitution
The process of drafting India's constitution began after India gained independence from Britain in 1947. The country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, presided over its Constituent Assembly, which was formed to draft the new legislation.
Constitutional Assembly
On August 29, 1947, a Constituent Assembly was convened for the purpose of drafting the Indian constitution. This assembly was composed of 284 members who were elected by the provincial legislatures, central legislature, and various princely states. It held its first session on December 9, 1946, with Dr. Rajendra Prasad as its temporary president. However, it took two years for the Assembly to adopt the constitution of India.
Membership
Membership of the Constituent Assembly was diverse, representing different communities and backgrounds. The provinces had the largest representation, followed by the centrally governed regions, and then the Muslim majority areas. There were also representatives from the princely states. The total membership of the Constituent Assembly consisted of the following individuals:
- 299 members from the provinces
- 389 members from the princely states
- 8 members nominated by Nehru
These numbers later changed when some seats became vacant.
Drafting Committee
To facilitate the drafting process, five committees were set up in the Constituent Assembly: the Union Powers Committee, the States Reorganization Committee, the Union Finances Committee, the Provincial Constitutions Committee, and the Drafting Committee. Among these, the most important committee was the Drafting Committee, which was responsible for preparing the final draft of the Indian Constitution.
Members
The Drafting Committee was chaired by B.R. Ambedkar, known as the father of the Indian Constitution. He was joined by seven other members: Fali S. Nariman, N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, Ravi Shanker Shukla, Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyer, Kailash Nath Katju, H.V. Kamath, and T.T. Krishnamachari. These eight men worked tirelessly to create a legal framework that would define the rights and responsibilities of the citizens of independent India.
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Description
Learn about the formation of India's Constituent Assembly, its membership composition, and the role of the Drafting Committee in preparing the Indian Constitution. Discover key figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and B.R. Ambedkar who played pivotal roles in shaping the country's legislative framework.